Shifting problems*

differentstrokes87

Shifting up on the rear is fine, pretty much perfect. Shifting down to the smaller sprockets has became a problem though, the last 3 or 4 cogs are very slow, the further down the slower it gets. I've done a quick search and I'm guessing the cable has stretched and needs replacing. The bike has SRAM Force shifters/mechs if that makes a difference.

If anyone has any ideas I'd grateful of the help, also any suggestions of which cables are worth looking at if I do need to replace it.

Thank you.

Ben6899

I presume by 'shifting down', you mean towards the spokes and hence a larger sprocket?

differentstrokes87

No the opposite, sorry. Shifting to the smaller sprockets.

Ben6899

differentstrokes87 wrote:

No the opposite, sorry. Shifting to the smaller sprockets.

Ah right, that's upshifting. No bother.

If the gear change is "hanging" as you release cable tension, I would give everything a very thorough clean as the first port of call - all this costs is time. Clean:

1. The rear mech loop inner cable (reapply a fine coat of 3in1 oil);
2. The chain (reapply your lube of choice);
3. The rear mech (parallelogram spring and all pivot points); and
4. The cassette. Do this well. Get inbetween the sprockets with a lint-free cloth.

This is speaking from experience on my winter bikes - grime build up on these parts can really slow the upshift. The downshift is increasing tension so it's generally the case that the cable works against the grime to make a successful shift.

If all this fails, then you might need to check your indexing (you'll reset this anyway if you uncouple the rear inner cable to clean) and mech hanger alignment (you might need an lbs to check this).

phillips1965

Di2 sorted. Expensive maybe, no cables and minimum maintenance works for me, oh and no chain rub. worth every penny imo.

differentstrokes87

The last time I used the bike I removed the chain, degreased and lubed it and also gave the cassette a good clean too.

I'll give the mech and cable a closer look tomorrow and see if that helps. If not would you say it'd be worth replacing the cable?

k-dog

Definitely - and chsnge the outer - especially the loop to the rear derailleur. As or easy said that part pulls muck inside due to its position and that muck causes the cable to snag. It also gets a bit stiff over time so the outer doesn't move so well with the RD - again just takes the edge of shifting.